Windows Server 2022 Standard vs Datacenter: Which is Right for You?

When outfitting your IT infrastructure, choosing the right server operating system is a critical decision. Microsoft currently offers two primary editions of its flagship server OS: Windows Server 2022 Standard and Windows Server 2022 Datacenter. But what are the actual differences between the two?

The Core Difference: Virtualization Rights

The primary difference between the two editions boils down to virtualization. Both editions require licensing all physical cores on the server, but they grant different rights regarding Virtual Machines (VMs).

• Standard Edition: Grants the right to run exactly two (2) Operating System Environments (OSEs) or Virtual Machines. If you need to run more than two VMs, you have to buy additional Standard licenses to cover all the cores again.
• Datacenter Edition: Grants the right to run an unlimited number of OSEs or Virtual Machines on the licensed server.

Advanced Features Exclusive to Datacenter

Besides unlimited virtualization, Datacenter includes a few advanced features aimed at highly virtualized, enterprise environments:

• Storage Spaces Direct (S2D): Allows you to pool local storage across a cluster of servers to create highly available, scalable software-defined storage.
• Host Guardian Hyper-V Support: Provides secure, shielded virtual machines to protect data from compromised host administrators.
• Software-Defined Networking (SDN): Advanced network virtualization features.

Which Should You Choose?

If you are a small business running a physical server with just a domain controller and a file server (1-2 VMs), Standard is the most cost-effective choice. However, if you are building a dense Hyper-V cluster running dozens of VMs, Datacenter is the only practical option.

At Digitecheps, we offer wholesale pricing on both editions. Check out our Server Products to purchase genuine Windows Server 2022 keys today!